Real Food Real People

As an orphan from Mexico, Jesús Limón literally started with nothing, but through decades of hard work, he built his own orchard in Quincy, Washington. Despite all he's overcome, Jesús is now deeply troubled about the future of family farming in WA, and he shares why he fears for the future of our food system. The post Jesús Limón | #120 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

"I don't know what the future of this farm is." Nora Doelman is very up front when she talks about how hard it is to keep a family farm going in western Washington. See her and her family's dairy in beautiful Elma, WA on this all-new episode, and learn more about why it's an ongoing struggle to save family farming here in the Evergreen State. The post Nora Doelman | #119 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Small Farmer Jess Jager of Your Friends Farm shares a story of getting judged—and dismissed—as a farmer, based on her appearance. She and host Dillon Honcoop tackle the thorny issues of sexism, stereotyping and judging by appearances that more farmers face than you might expect. The post Small Farmer Jessica Jager On Stereotypes & Appearances appeared first on Real Food Real People.

"There's just a massive disconnect." But Nicole Derting of Post 5 Cattle Co. wants to reconnect local communities with locally-grown food, and with how she runs her ranch and sells her beef, she's putting her money where her mouth is. In this episode, Nicole explains so miuch about how beef is raised here in WA, and shares so much wisdom about the state of the food system, and why she's so passionate about bringing change. The post Nicole Derting | #118 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Despite having no background in dairy farming, Norma Ruiz had the courage to take over a Bow, Washington creamery and dairy, learning as she went. We visit the farm and learn how she raises cows, producing milk to make artisanal cheeses at Golden Glen Creamery, just a stone's throw from shores of Puget Sound. The post Norma Ruiz | #117 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Francisco Sarmiento is following in his father's footsteps, not only as a farm worker, but now as a fruit farming educator in the world's apple capital, Wenatchee, Washington. Join us as we visit his college fruit science lab, hear Francisco's personal story and passion for growing food, and check out an actual orchard! The post Francisco Sarmiento | #116 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Online farmer harassment… Yes, sadly it’s a real thing, and chef & farmer Ona Lee of Clara's Canning joins Dillon live from her farm to explain. Join us for our first-ever live episode as we tackle this troubling trend, and of course get an update on Ona Lee’s farm and business! The post Chef & Farmer Ona Lee on Online Harassment appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Season 4 kicks off with a visit to MyShan Dairy to hear Shannon Smith's amazing story, see the farm, and find out about the unique niche they've found in the dairy case! The post Shannon Smith | #115 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

A battle with stage 4 cancer and a dangerous flood could have ended their farm, but Shelli DeJager and her husband Pete have managed to keep their small family dairy near Everson, WA alive. Hear Shelli recount the dramatic details of survival, and find out why her children won't be able to keep the farm despite their desire to continue the family's farming legacy. The post Shelli DeJager | #114 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Despite his passion from a young age for raising cattle, becoming a full-time rancher didn't seem to be in the cards for Pete Charriere. Hear what changed to make that dream a reality for Pete, and why he remains so passionate about raising top-quality beef in Pomeroy, Washington. The post Pete Charriere | #113 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

After a career as a fish biologist around the Pacific Northwest, Steve Seymour helped reinvigorate Drayton Harbor Oyster Company in Blaine, Washington. Steve shares the story of making the oyster farm a regional destination, as well as the challenges of growing oysters and the incredible benefits they offer. The post Steve Seymour | #112 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Although she always wanted to be a farmer, it was the pandemic that finally pushed Jessica Jager and her husband to start Your Friends Farm near Spokane. Hear about their amazing journey, and the care they put into every bit of food they produce. The post Jessica Jager | #111 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Growing up in one of Washington's oldest apple-growing families, 5th generation apple & cherry farmer Reba Guzman learned to appreciate hard work and honor the legacy she wants to help continue. She explains why she's so proud of the fruit her family produces, and just how much care and hard work goes into growing it and selling it all over the nation and around the world. The post Reba Guzman | #110 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Growing over 300 kinds of fruits and vegetables near Eltopia, WA, Alan Schreiber shares the insider struggles with bringing real local food to market. The post Alan Schreiber | #109 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Second-generation dairy farmer Dwayne Faber is passionate about milk, and how it continues to play a role in the evolution of our society. The post Dwayne Faber | #108 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Growing up as a farmworker in Washington orchards, Faviola Barbosa experienced the hard work and uncertainty that comes with growing food. After working extensively in the world of education, she's come back to her farming roots to help guide the WA tree fruit community's generous funding through the Washington Apple Education Foundation to assist young people raised in tree fruit districts with their education. The post Faviola Barbosa | #107 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

As a policy analyst, Pam Lewison not only writes about the affects of new laws on farming, but also continues to work on her family's farm near Moses Lake, WA. The post Pam Lewison | #106 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

She's a chef with Michelin-star training who now grows her own food. Meet Ona Lee Weatherford, whose amazing journey of loss and renewal has taken her to New York, Los Angeles and back home to Washington state. The post Ona Lee Weatherford | #105 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Ever heard of black garlic? Food entrepreneur Ivan Sultan has all the details on it, as well as the unique Columbia Bar energy bars he's created. He shares deep insights from a lifelong journey that's taken him to nearly every corner of the food system. The post Ivan Sultan | #104 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Sustainability is everything to Jack Mallonee's family's small organic dairy in Curtis, WA. Hear how they combine four generations' worth of farming knowledge with cutting-edge technology to steward the land while producing quality milk. The post Jack Mallonee | #103 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Gerrit Van Weerdhuizen has a passion for educating students about farming, and has mentored countless people interested in growing food and supporting the food system. Known to his students as "Mr. Van," he's also a beef farmer himself, and we visited his farm near Everson, WA to hear his insights into food, farming and education. The post Gerrit Van Weerdhuizen | #102 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Rex Ogden is the 4th generation to farm a hilly piece of land near Castle Rock, Washington. As he sees family farms disappearing from his part of the state, he shares his perspective on what it will take to protect them The post Rex Ogden | #101 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

An unbelievable farming accident nearly killed Ron Tebow when he was 19, and it changed his life forever, in more ways than one. Hear him tell his incredible story, and explain how he became a farmer poet later in life. The post Ron Tebow | #100 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Even though Kaitlyn Thornton is a social media influencer with over a quarter-million followers, she's still the real deal, helping run her family's apple and pear orchard in Tonasket, WA. She opens up about why she's a farmer, and how difficult times shaped her passion for growing food. The post Kaitlyn Thornton | #099 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

These first-generation wheat farmers took a big risk to start their farm near Harrington, WA. Meet Josh & Katie Steward, and hear why they were willing to put their family's future on the line to become farmers. The post Josh & Katie Steward | #098 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

If you've ever eaten beef from Whole Foods, it may have come from Austin Olma's ranch. Hear directly from this real-life cowboy about the challenges he faces every day as we visit his ranch in Tonasket, WA. The post Austin Olma | #097 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

This dairy farm in Washington has created a revolutionary natural skincare cream made from cows' colostrum. Ashlee Frank with Nurst explains how the innovative idea was born on her family's farm, Royal Family Farming, and how they're trying to get the word out about the surprising benefits of their unique skincare products. The post Ashlee Frank | #096 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Labor challenges mean an uncertain future for small family farms like the orchard Pedro Cuevas runs with his father. Pedro sat down with Dillon to share his story of growing up in a farm worker family and talk about the cutting-edge farming technology he's now involved with. The post Pedro Cuevas | #095 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

More and more people are disconnected from how their food is grown, and farmsteader Mieschia Wilson says one of the consequences is that people are lashing out at farmers. Hear how she's personally been targeted, and what she's trying to do at Next Generation Farmstead to reconnect people with where their food comes from. The post Mieschia Wilson | #094 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Growing local beef and crops not far from Seattle, Andrew Albert knows he's part of a dying breed. But he doesn't think it should be that way. Hear directly from this 3rd-generation farmer about the long list of pressures pushing more and more family farms out of business, and find out the real reason he keeps farming in spite of the stress. The post Andrew Albert | #093 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Once known as the "forbidden fruit," black currants have storied past here in the US, and Lindsey Van Dyken's family has been growing them since they were legalized in Washington less than 20 years ago. Hear Lindsey's story and the challenges her family farm has faced in growing the niche crop and other berries for a growing crowd of loyal customers. The post Lindsey Van Dyken | #092 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Growing up in a family of farm workers, Eros Gonzalez is no stranger to the hard work that goes into growing food. Now he helps farms conserve water and grow sustainable crops through his work at WaterTec in Lynden, WA. The post Eros Gonzalez | #091 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

This organic dairy farmer is betting everything on the future of local food, as he and his family work to launch their own creamery and market near Seattle. Meet Ryan Mensonides of Mount Rainier Creamery & Market and Providence Farms and hear his passion for local food and family farming, as well as the huge challenges he's faced to make his dream a reality. The post Ryan Mensonides | #090 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Could oysters and clams be the protein of the future? We sat down with shellfish farmer Francisco Santelices of Skagit Shellfish to learn how they rely on Skagit Bay's cold, clean water to grow some of the best oysters and clams around. The post Francisco Santelices | #089 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

He had been in farming literally his whole life... up until 4 months ago. Host Dillon Honcoop's dad, Randy, shares the story of how he became a red raspberry farmer, and explains what it's like to leave the only occupation he's ever known. The post Randy Honcoop | #088 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

The reason Jared Easterday is so passionate about growing food might surprise you. Sitting around his kitchen table talking about growing vegetables, we learn not only about how Jared farms, but how he sees his work fitting into the big picture. The post Jared Easterday | #087 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

We go inside a real local butcher shop to hear about the challenges Boston Alvord faces as he continues a centuries-old tradition of preparing meat for local customers' tables. The post Boston Alvord | #086 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Sadly, there's a huge bottleneck keeping a lot of locally-grown beef from reaching dinner tables in WA. Small beef farmer Marie Hegarty explains why, and shares what's so important to her about raising small-scale grassfed beef near Custer, WA at Fair Cow's Path Farm. The post Marie Hegarty | #085 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

His wheat, barley and lentils are eaten all over the world, and Dwayne Lenssen grows them in the scenic rolling hills of the Palouse in Eastern Washington and Idaho. Dillon and Dwayne discuss how wheat is farmed in this unique region, and connect around a shared history with a tragic twist. The post Dwayne Lenssen | #084 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

What's the truth about the controversial H-2A Guest Worker program? Farm worker housing manager Luis Guitron shares what it's like behind the scenes, as well as his own personal story, as Dillon Honcoop visits an actual guest worker housing facility in Okanogan, WA. The post Luis Guitron | #083 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

She may have the best marinara sauce you've ever tasted, and Amy Cords and her mom make it right here in Washington state. Hear the story of how their unwritten family recipe became the mainstay of Manja Creations Artisan Food Company. The post Amy Cords | #082 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Racking up millions of video views, mother and daughter-in-law homesteaders Jordyn and Kay Clark became a viral sensation on social media, sharing day-to-day insights into growing food. They share how they got started, what made them go viral, and what their newfound notariety means for their homestead, Portage View Farm, on Washington's Lummi Peninsula. The post Jordyn & Kay Clark | #081 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Author and professor Gigi Berardi says some kinds of farming in Washington state are often much closer to the "extinction threshold" than people realize. Gigi shares how she came from Hollywood to farming, via academia, and opens up about what she's found in her research on farms and at Western Washington University's Huxley College of the Environment. The post Gigi Berardi | #080 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

When Bernadette Gagnier came to WSU's agriculture research station in Prosser to get a PhD in horticulture, she was reconnecting with family farming roots she didn't even know she had. She explains why the bugs she's researching are bad news for WA's amazing wines, and how she's trying to stop them without using pesticides. The post Bernadette Gagnier | #079 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Even though she was diagnosed with cancer, Leann Krainick knew her family's 100-year-old dairy couldn't stop while she was in treatment. She shares the emotional story of working through that time of crisis, and gives an inside look at running Krainick Dairy just a stone's throw from Seattle. The post Leann Krainick | #078 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

This PNW-based farmer-turned-recycler has a powerful solution to America's food waste problem. Luke Dynes has developed technology that he aims to take to every state in the nation and drastically reduce the amount of food that ends up in landfills. In fact, he's already doing it right here in Washington and Oregon. The post Luke Dynes | #077 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

He describes it as one of the best places in the world to make wine. That's why Co Dinn crafts his award-winning wines in the heart of the Yakima Valley with a keen focus on sustainability. Come with us as we visit Co Dinn Cellars' tasting room in Sunnyside, WA. The post Co Dinn | #076 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Kyler Beard is a real Washington cowboy, and he's passionate about doing what's best for his cattle and the rangeland they graze on. The post Kyler Beard | #075 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

Are dairy cows being treated well on Washington state dairy farms? Coming into the world of dairy originally as an outsider, Brianna Parmentier is now in charge of taking care of a dairy herd near Everson, WA. She shares what really happens behind the scenes on dairy farms in this state. The post Brianna Parmentier | #074 appeared first on Real Food Real People.

This beef and dairy farmer is dangerously close to achieving sustainable carbon neutrality on his farm near Royal City, WA. It may surprise you what Austin Allred of Royal Family Farming says is the secret to carbon neutrality, building soil health and producing food in a way that's sustainable for generations to come. The post Austin Allred | #073 appeared first on Real Food Real People.